Top Five Elements of an Adventurous Elopement
It’s no secret: we love elopements. We’ve spent the last three years of our career becoming elopement specialists. We’ve seen elopements from the role of a planner, an officiant, and even an assistant florist and have enjoyed every angle. We’ve worked with nationally-recognized photographers and videographers in this field and have shared some pretty epic sunsets with incredible couples. What we love is that, while elopements look very low-key and easy, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make that fee and easy day happen. We love being the planners and elopement architects on behalf of our couples so that the process IS just as easy as it LOOKS. We thought we’d share our experience and a few of our thoughts on some of the key components to an epic elopement.
1. ACCOMMODATIONS
This probably seems like a weird thing to put first, right? Don’t we want to start with the epic views? The crazy locations? The setting for the ceremony? Sure we do (and we will get there in a hot second), but first we want to address where you’re resting your head on this grand adventure. Why? Think about packing for an overnight camping trip: it takes a lot of time to select your location, study the trail reports, pull out and disperse the materials for your pack(s), prepare for inclement weather, meal plan, plan your water, acquire permits, the list goes on. It takes so much time to prepare your basic survival needs in preparation for an overnight because… well… Mother Nature has her own plans, and you want to be prepared. You don’t want a little extra rain dampening your lakeside tent set-up because you forgot to pack a rain fly. You don't want a meal planning oversight to cut your trip short. So too does this principle apply to elopements.
Your accommodations — whether it be a tent, a fire lookout, a cozy cabin, or a large property — need to be prepared and able to hold the kind of experience you and your partner want during the “in between” moments of your elopement. So start to ask yourself: What do you require for a successful overnight? Are you in a bed or under the stars? Do you want the action of a city or the tranquility of the woods? Is cooking for yourselves a priority, or is your game plan to eat out and treat yourself? Are you bringing along fellow adventure buddies and, if so, how many? What kind of proximity and travel time do you want between your stay and your elopement location(s)? Do you want a comfy corner to read a book, or is having access to cable and HBO the way you like to unwind? Your accommodations are so much more than a place to rest your head. Without a mindful environment to hold and house you, you won’t get to enjoy the full experience of your adventure. That’s why accommodations ranks #1 on our list of elements to consider for your adventurous elopement.
How do you find the right accommodations for your elopement? That, my friends, is a great question. If you’re planning your own elopement, you’ll spend a lot of time on a combination of websites, including: state and national parks websites, trail guides like Washington Trails Association and AllTrails, sites for stays like AirBnB and VRBO, Google Maps, campground websites, and third party sites for stays. You will want to research the proximity of your stay to different hikes, attractions, and activities, as well as research seasonal conditions and closures. If you’re working with a planner, they will have all of this beautiful information and context housed in their process. What we offer is an online Client Portal that has elopement locations and accommodations listed by region so that you can select your perfect combination. It’s taken many years of research and site visits to compile all of these ideas and offerings, and we have worked hard to make it a usable resource for our eloping couples. We consult with you to distill what you want in your stay and assemble itineraries for you to select from. We also use the Portal as inspiration for different hikes and activities you can do in the days surrounding your elopement. It’s like a one-stop local travel guide made just for you.
2. ADVENTURE ROAD-MAP.
No trip is complete without a little research! Whenever we travel internationally, my husband and I purchase the Fodor’s Travel Guide for the country. That guide gives you the skinny on the top things to do in every major city and region like where to eat (or not eat), how to get around, and how much you can expect to pay for different products and services. Going into travel prepared for what comes next lets you set aside some anxiety about the unknown so you can enjoy all the trip has to offer. In the exact same regard, we work with our couples to plot out what they want their elopement day to look like so that they can ease in and enjoy it when it arrives.
Some of the questions we ask you are: What kinds of places do you want to visit? What kind of scenery do you want to see? How much time do you want to spend with family versus each other? What moments are important to share or keep sacred between the two of you? What kind of food do you like? We break down the different components our couples are interested in and put together a schedule that combines the priority activities they want to do that day. And you may be surprised; the day can move relatively fast when you take self-care, meals, commuting, and outdoor adventuring into account. That is why we build out a list of recommended activities called “Your Adventure Road-map” that you can refer to during your trip. Didn’t get to see it all in a single day? No problem: you can either add activities into your trip before you take off, or wake up and see what you fancy that day.
3. CEREMONY LOCATION (+ BACK-UP LOCATION).
The universe laughs when you’re making plans, which is why we recommend making backup plans (and laughing with the universe)! Except for the summer months, we have had to invoke our backup plan for an elopement more often than not. Sweet Mama Nature can be unpredictable at best and it’s always best to work with her, rather than against her. That is why we work with couples to make sure we have a few options that target the kind of experience they want to have.
We ask the hard questions that couples may have to choose between in shifting conditions: Do you prioritize a snowy backdrop or a mountain vista? Sometimes the snow falls hard and fast and it makes for a cold, wet, disconnected experience to try and do both. Do you want an easy trail hike with lots of people, or something a bit more rigorous with no one around? Sometimes the most beautiful sights are on the most populated trails; know what you’re signing up for so that you aren’t surprised when you arrive. Would you rather take your time, or move on a schedule to see all the sights? Some couples want to soak all the nature in while they’re there, while others take a laid-back approach.
The bottom line? If your priorities for the day are well-considered and clear, then we can create a vision and alternatives that align with your priorities for the day. Leave the weather cams, packing lists, trail conditions, and communication to us; just get ready to enjoy the experience knowing we have your heart for adventure in our capable hands.
4. VENDOR TEAM.
Elopements are fun because they are 110% customizable. You get to make decisions with the two of you at the core. You can choose to do as little or as much as feels good for your day. We have worked with couples who have rocked combinations as basic as photographer, hair + make-up, officiant, and florist; to couples who have curated an epic day with photographer, videographer, hair + make-up, florist, officiant, dessert, tablescape rentals, weekend cabin rental, catered meal, and custom calligraphy gear. Truly, the world is your oyster and there is no right or wrong way to do your elopement. After all, it is just for you. ;)
The filter we ask our couples to pass all hiring decisions through is: Does it add to your day? Just like with a wedding, it can be easy to get caught up in what other people are doing or doing things “the right way”. We can tell when you’re getting pulled into that world, which is exactly where we take a pause and ask for the “why” behind the hire. Why are you considering this artist or this service? What enjoyment will you get out of it? If you feel as though that person or service will help level-up your experience, then let’s get an interview on the books!
That being said, there is no better way to know if a vendor will be a good fit for you than if they are, 1) recommended by someone you trust like a friend or your planner, 2) their work speaks to you through their website, and 3) you click on the phone or video chat and want their energy in your space on your day. We help save our couples time and energy by knowing our local elopement market, making recommendations that are a good quality and personality fit, and doing the work of asking for availability, framing the conversation, and setting up appointments. It’s like introducing new friends (our clients) to our family (vendors) knowing that they are in the best hands possible. It’s one of our favorite things to do!
5. SUSTENANCE.
Let’s talk about snacks! Like any good outdoor endeavor, your snacks can change everything. Not only do you want a solid source of nutrition if you opt for a half-day or full-day adventure, but you also want noms on the road to make sure your blood sugar stays balanced and your hanger stays in the back seat of this experience. We always recommend packing some travel classics like trail mix, Chex mix, oranges, and sandwiches to feed your basic needs (literally). Always pack plenty of water.
Food can not only sustain, but also significantly shift the mood of your elopement, too. Some couples have opted to bring along a cake or packable s’mores caramels as a celebratory dessert. Others leave space in their packs for champagne and silicone cups for a post-ceremony mountain-top toast. Others have picked up a taco pizza between their ceremony and sunset portraits to eat on the trunk of their car. Others still have brought along boxed wine for their toboggan down a snowy slope in their wedding dress. The takeaway? Bring all the snacks! We promise you won’t regret it.
While there are so many other elements that also make for an epic elopement — music, personal touches, and surprises to name a few — we want to leave you with the core components that are important to any elopement day. If you’d like to dive into the details and have our team in your corner, we would love to hear from you. We thrive on meeting new people and chatting adventure. Just click the button below, and we will reach out to connect!
— Kate, Tapestry Creative Director